Prime-mover dynamo plant



Sept. 25, 1928 1,685,740 A i R. H. EARuE `Pluma ynaovER DYNAMO PLANT Filed Jun 18,1924

N TO INORML CONF/TIG RflV Patented Sept. 2 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. EARLE, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO .ALLIS-CHALMERS MAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

YRIME-MOVER DYNAMO PLANT. i

Application led June 18, 1924. Serial No. 720,721.`

This invention relates to prime mover (flynamo plants and control systems there- It is desirable to'cause a prime mover to 5 start automatically in response to a single :initializing operation which latter may be performed at the prime mover or at any desired distance therefrom. The initiating operation may be manually performed or in l response to predetermined conditions. If the prime mover drives an electric generator it is further desirable to automatically connect the generator to its associated distribution system when desired conditions obtain. l One of the objects of this invention is to provide a system which will perform these desired functions. Another object of the invention is to provide a system of prime mover control whereby the prime mover may 20 be automatically started from rest and have its speed gradually increased, and more specifically to have such starting operation under speed control. Still another object is to provide an automatic starting system for prime moversin which the prime mover is under load control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system for controlling a prime mover whereby the prime mover is automatically stopped in response to initiating conditions. and more specifically in which the stopping is accomplished in a gradual manner. A more specific object is the provision of means for automatically stopping the :m prime mover providing at least two different rates of stopping dependent upon predetermined conditions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for automatically starting 4o a prime mover dynamo plant in which the prnne mover is automatically brought up to a speed corresponding to the frequency of the line to which the generator is to be connected, and then increasing the speed setting to canse lthe prime mover to tend to run faster.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic starting system for prime movers in which after the starting control has been initiated and the means for admitting operating fluid to the prime mover fails to open, or the speed governor fails to pick up, or other abnormal conditions obtain, the starting control operations will not be completed, and more specifically, the prime mover gate will be re-closed if it has been opened.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of the invention will appear from this Vspecification and the accompanying drawings showing several embodiments thereof and forming a v'art of this specification. and all these novel eatures are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a prime mover dynamo plant, in which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a modified detail View.

Referring to Fig. 1, the prime mover 1 is here indicated as a hydraulic turbine arranged to drive a generator, here shown as of the alternating current type. The generator 2 is connected to a three-phase line 3 which is in turn conneetible to a three-phase distribution system 4 through means which will be more fully described hereinafter. The hydraulic turbine l is supplied through a pipe in which is disposed a butterfly valve 5 having a pivot 6. It is to be understood that any other means for controlling the admission of operating Huid to `the prime mover might be utilized and in the usual form of installation this means would include the guide vanes of the turbine. For the sake, of brevity the means for controlling the admission of operating fluid to the prime mover will be hereinafter referred to as a gate. The gate 5 is operable by means of a crank 7 connected by mea-ns of a connecting rod 8 to a piston rod 9. The piston rod 9 is adapted to be operated by two pistons 10, 11. The piston 10 is here shown as operable in a Cylinder 12 and the piston 11 is operable in another cylinder 13. The pistons 10, 11 are aet-uatable by means of fluid under pressure and the admission of this fluid to the cylinders is controllable by a regulating valve 14. The regulating valve 14 includes a cylinder 15 having a port connected to a pipe 16 the other end of which is connected to the cylinder 13, and also another port connected to a.

pipe 17 the other end of which is 4connected to the cylinder 12. The regulating valve 14 further includes a pair of spaced istonvalves 18, 19 adapted to cooperate with the ports of pipes 16, 17, the relation being such that when the regulating valve is in its neutral position the piston-valves 18 and 19 will close the ports 16 and 17 respectively. The piston-valves 18, 19 are operable by means of a rod 2O on which they are mounted. Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the regulating valve cylinder 15 through a pipe 21 and a pipe 23 connected to a pressure tank 24 adapted to contain fluid under pressure. The connection between pipes 21 and 23 is controlled by means of a shut-off valve 22 the operation of which will be described hereinafter. Fluid, usually oil, may be supplied to tank 24 and placed under pressure therein by means of a pump 25 driven by a motor 26. A check valve 27 is preferably interposed between the pump 25 and the tank 24 so that when the pump is at rest there will be no leakage from the tank. The pump 25 is here shown as drawing its supply of fluid from a receiving tank or sump 28. The motor 26 may be controlled in any desired manner. The cylinder 15 of the regulating valve is provided with a drain port 29, here shown as at the upper end of cylinder 15, connected with a pipe 31 through which oil may reach the sump 28. The cylinder 15 is provided with a similar drain port 30. here shown as at the lower end of cylinder 15, also connected to pipe 31.

The regulating valve 14 is controlled by means of a floating lever 32 pivoted at a point 35. The position of the pivot 35 is controlled by means responsive to the speed of the prime mover, as for example, the fly balls 33, here shown as rotatable by means of a belt 34 driven from the prime mover shaft. It is of course to be understood that any other suitable speed responsive means might be utilized. The end of the floating lever 32 associated with the regulating valve 14 carries a swiveled nut 36 through which freely passes a rod 37 threaded at the upper end to receive a nut 38. The rod 37 is provided with a collar 39 between which and the nut 36 is interposed a spring 40. The rod 37 ext-ends into. and through the cover of a cylinder 41. Vithin the cylinder the rod 37 is provided at its lower end with a stop collar 42 between which and the cover of cylinder 41 is interposed a spring 43. The cylinder 41 is rigidly associated with the rod 20 of the regulating valve. The connection between the floating lever 32 and regulating valve 14 hereinabove described is merely illustrative of one suitable form.

The position of the regulatin valve is also controllable, in addition to t 1e control by the fly balls 33, by a load limiting device. For this purpose the cylinder 41 is here shown as provided with a projection 44 engageable by a control finger 45 pivoted on a stationary plivot 46. It is of course to be understood t at the proJection 44 need not necessarily be on the cylinder 41. M0-

tion may be transmitted to the control finger 45 from a crank 47 operable in unison with the gate 5 and therefore positioned in accordance with the position of said gate. The crank 47 is connected to a crank 49 having a stationary pivot 50. The crank 49 is pivoted to and adapted to reciprocate a connecting member 51 also serving as a support for various devices to be hereinafter noted. The member 51 is here shown as carrying a cylinder 52 in which a piston 53 carried by a piston rod 54 is operable. The motion of piston 53 is retardable by means of a piston 55 operable ina dash pot 56 which may constitute an extension of the cylinder 52. The amount of retardation caused by the piston 55 may be regulated by an adjustable bypass 57 in a well known manner. One end of the piston rod 54 is adapted to swing a crank 58 rigidly associated with the control finger 45, the piston rod 54 being connected to crank 58 by means of the pivot pin 59. Interposed between an end wall of cylinder 52 and piston 53 is a spring 60 which biases the piston rod 54 ,in such a direction as to swing the control finger 45 in a clockwise direction. The motion of control finger 45 in a counter-clockwise direction is limited by means of one or more adjustable nuts 61 on the lower end of the piston rod 54. The motion of nut 61 is limited by a flange or stop 62 carried by member 51. The flange 62 is also here shown as carrying a movable contact 63 which, in the position of the parts illustrated, is in contact with a relatively stationary contact 64 carried by any suitable support associated with the member 51. Near the opposite face of the contact 63 is disposed another relatively stationary contact 65. Motion may be imparted to contact 63 by means of a cam member 66 here shown as adjustable longitudinally of contact 63. The disposition of the parts is such that when contact 63 is moved away from contact 64 it will be moved into engagement with contact 65. Also here shown as carried by the flange 62 is a movable Contact 67 which, in the position of the parts as shown, is out of engagement with another contact 68 which is relatively stationary and supported in any suitable manner, as by flange 62. Movement of contact 67 may be caused by means of a cam member 69, which may, if desired, be also adjustable. It is to be understood that the switches hereinbefore described may be of any suitable design to perform the desired functions hereinafter' set forth. For the purpose of operating the cam members 66 and 69. a cam actuater 70 carried by the piston rod 54 and here shown as in the form of a disk, is provided. The piston rod 54 is further provided, here shown at the end nearest the control finger 15, with a lateral projection 71 to which is 491, thus opening communication between pipe 23 and pipe 21. Operating in unison adjustably fastened a detent rod 72 extendlng at right angles to said rejection. lC0- operable wlth the detent 72 and ivoted at the point 73, with the pivotl re erably` The detent rod 2 is preferably provided with a concave end to enable it to cooperate with the roller 75.

The operation of piston 53 against the biasl of spring 60 also causes counter-clockwise rotation of a crank 78 ri 'dly associated with crank 58. The crank 8 is connected by means of a rod 79 with one arm of a bell crank leverv 80 the other arm of which forms a latch cooperable withv a notch 81 formed in the piston rod 9 or an associated part. The purpose of the latch 80 is to retain the gate 5 in closed position veven after fluid pressure has been cut olf from cylinder 12. This is necessary in installations in which the water or other operating fluid tends to open the control gate 5.

The admission of lluid underpressure to the cylinder 52 and also to the shut-of! valve 22 is here shown as controlled by means of an electromagnetically operated valve 82. This valve includes a piston 83 adapted, when the operating means is deenergized, to close the port of a pipe 84 leading from the valve to the supply pipe 23. Spaced from and operable in un1son with the piston valve 83 is the piston valve 85 which in the position of the parts shown exposes a drain port 186, which may be connected to the receiving tank 28. The valve 82 includes un exit port connected with a pipe 187. 'Ihis port is so positioned that when the piston valve 83 is raised the pipe 84 and port 187 are connected so that fluid under pressure may pass into a pipe 87. The other end of pipe 87 is connected with a port in the cylinder 52 positioned so that the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder will force piston 53 against spring 60. Interposed in pipe 87 is a flexible hose so that the piston 52 may move relatively to the stationary portion of pipe 87 The shut-0E valve 22also receives fluid under pressure, for operating the same, from pipe 187, a connection being made between the latter and an operating cylinder 88 for the shut-off valve. A piston 89 operates in cylinder 88 and is adapted when fluid under pressure is admitted to cylinder 88 to force a valve member 90 ofthe shut-off valve to open position against 'the bias of a spring with piston 89 is detent rod 92 adapted to cooperate with a latch provided, as here shown with a roller 93. The latch is swingable about a relatively stationary pivot 94,

suitably mounted in any desired manner. The latch 93 is biased toward engaging position by means of a spring 95 suitably connected to the latch as by means of a lever moving in unison therewith. The latch 93, is, with the parts in a positon shown in the drawing, held out of engaging position by means of a'crank97, through a hole in which freely passes a rod 96 pivotally connected at `the other end to the latch 93. The rod 96 is provided at the other end with a nut 98 against which the crank 97 abuts. The crank 97 is connected so as to operate in unison with the gate latch 80 and therefore when latch 80 is swung in a clockwise direction the crank 97 will permit the spring 95 to act to swing the latch 93 into engagement with the detent 92, assuming that said detent has been lowered by downward movement of piston 89.

The movement of gate 5 also reacts on a compensating device for the turbine governor in the following manner. Operating in unison with crank 49 is a crank 99 suitably connected to a compensating device 100 which may be of any desired form, for example. as shown in the patent to Englesson 1,126,433, January 26, 1915. The eompen sating device 100 is provided with a piston rod 101 around which isA freely rotatable a screw 102 with which cooperates a nut 103 suitably swiveled to and carried by the floating` lever 32. The screw 102 is rotatable bv means of a worm wheel 104 cooperating with a worm 105 which may be suitably driven bv an 'electric motor 106 here shown, for simplicity, as carried bv a support 107 which is rigidly attached to the piston rod 101. It is to be understood that motor 106 may be mounted on a stationary support and motion transmit-ted therefrom to screw 102 in any suitable manner. Furthermore, any other suitable form of motive device, such as oil pressure-operated cylinders, solenoids etc., may be substituted for motor 106, The motor 106 may be of the split-field type or any other motor the direction of rotation of which may be readily reversed so that the worm wheel 104 may bev rotated in either direction. The support 107 is here shown' as carryingr a plurality of switches and contacts which may if desired be mounted yon a panel carried by support 107. With the parts in the position as shown, the nut 103 lifts a movable switch member 108 out of Contact with a relatively stationary contact 109. lf the nut 103 is moved in a downward direction it will first engage another movable switch member 111 moving said switch out of contact with a relatively stationary contact 110. Further downward movement of nut 103 will cause the same to engage a movable switch member 113 thereby breaking contact between said switch member and a relatively stationary contact 112. A very slight further movement of the nut will cause the switch member 113 to make contact with another relatively stationary contact 114. These switches may be of any desired form and their purpose will be hereinafter set forth.

A speed responsive switch 115 is provided for controlling motor 106, in addition to various other controls to be set forth hereinafter. In the position of the parts as shown the switch 115 is raised out of contact with a relatively stationary contact 116, by means of a rod 117 connected to the fly ball mechanism 33 so as to be movable vertically by the latter. It is of course to be understood that other speed responsive means for operating switch 115 might be provided.

For the purpose of supplying electric current to the various control circuits and devices a souice of current 118, here shown as a battery, is provided, said battery having its terminals connected to the control buses 119, 120. Interposed in bus 119 is a contact 122 of a protective relay 121. The operating coil of relay'121 may be connected tobe energized by one or more devices responsive to abnormal conditions inthe apparatus, such as hot bearings, overload, etc; Such devices are well known in the art and have therefore not been shown on the drawing.

The electrical connections and their relation to the various elements lwill be best understood by a description of the operation of the system. If it is desired to start the prime mover 1, the switch 123 is closed, whereby solenoid 124 of electromagnetic valve S2 will be energized through conductors 125, 126, a movable relay contact 127, a conductor 128, contacts 64, 63, a conductor 129 to bus 120. Simultaneously a relay 130 will be energized from bus 119, conductor 125, a conductor 131, through coil 130 to bus 120. Relay 130 is provided with a ymovable contact 132 which when the relay is energized is raised to make contact with contacts 133, 134. Returning now to the operations which will follow the energization of electromagnetic valve 82. Pis# ton-valve 83 will be raised and oil under pressure will be admitted from pressure tank 24e to pipe 187 tlieieby forcing piston 89 downwardly to open communication between pipes 23 and 21. Pressure is now placed on the oil in cylinder' 12 thereby forcing piston 10 to the left to thoroughly seat gate 5. The purpose of this is to relieve the back pressure on the latch 80 so that it may be released as will be described. The opening of valve 82 also admits oil under pressure to pipe 87 thereby forcing piston 53 against spring 60. The movement of piston 53 is preferably slow and its speed may be regulated by the adjustable bypass 57 of dash pot 56. The motion of piston 53 gradually rotates control finger in a counter-clockwise direction permitting spring 43Ato act to pull rod 20 and therefore the vregulating valve pistons 18, 19 to their neutral positions in which they close ports 16, 17. Before this occurs, the latch 8O will have been withdrawn from the notch 81. At about the same time the latch 93 will have been moved ina counter-clockwise direction in a position to engage the collar at the end of the detent rod 92, which it will be remembered has been previously moved downwardly, thereby preventing upward movenient of said rod and valve 90. Further movement of piston 53 will permit rod 20 gradually to move the regulating valve to the gate-open position, that is, oil under pressure will be admitted through port 16 to cylinder 13 to gradually move vpiston 11 to the right thereby moving gate 5 toward open position. The turbine having started, begins to pick up speed and the governor balls 33 are so adjusted that at a comparatively low speed of the turbine they will have moved outwardly sufficient-ly to draw rod 117 downwardly to cause switch 115 to make contact with contact 116. The speed at which switch 115 closes may, for example, be of a value just suiicient to properly lubricate the bearings of the turbine, say about ive per cent of the normal speed of the turbine. As soon as the governor balls 33 begin to move outwardly they of course pull the right hand end of floating lever 32 downwardly thereby moving regulating valve 14 toward gate-closed position. In other words, the fly balls will assume control and tend to keep the turbine at about live per cent normal speed. Meanwhile piston 53 has been moved suiciently to cause the cam actuator 70l to move switch 63 out of contact with contact 64 and into contact with contact 65. The position of cam 66, which determines when the switch 63 shall be operated, is preferably so adjusted that the operation of said switch will take place at a setting of control finger 45 which corresponds to a setting of gate 5 which is either slightly greater than that required to start the'turbine oi to maintain normal speed, whichever gate opening is the greater. Such a setting is selected particularly in those cases where considerable gate opening is necessary to get the turbine runner started. Disengagement between contacts 63, 64 deenergizes the electromagnetically operated valve 82. Piston 83 therefore returns to the position shown in the drawing and cuts off fluid pressure from cylinders 52 and 88. Communication is also opened between pipe 187 and the drain pipe 186 so that the oil may be expelled from both of these cylinders under the action of their cooperating springs. It will however be remembered that valve 90 is held in its open position by means of latch 93 so that while at this time ud pressure has been cut oil from cylinder 88 the valve 90 will not return to its closed position. The piston 53 on the other hand will be imelled downwardl by sprin 60, at a rate determined by das pot 56. glhis movement of piston 53 would reenergize coil 124 but for the fact that when contacts 63 and 65 engage, a relay 135 is energized. The cir cuit maybe traced from bus 119 through a conductor 136, coil 135, a conductor 137 through contacts 65, 63, conductor 129, to bus 120. Coil 135 being energized draws up the movable contact 127 breaking circuit between the contacts it normally bridges and bridging a pair of contacts 138 thereby completing a new circuit for coil 135 across buses 119, 120 and therefore maintaining the circuit of coil 124 open.

Meanwhile, switch 115 having been closed at a very low speed of the turbine, motor 106 has been energized from bus 120, a conductor 139, contacts 111, 110, a conductor 140, relay contact 132 (this being in its upper position), a conductor 141, contacts 116, 115, a conductor 142, through motor 106, a conductor 143 to bus 119. The direction of the current through the motor is, in this circuit, such as to cause it to rotate in a direction to move nut 103 downwardly. A slight downward motion of nut 103 will cause contact 108 to engage Contact 109 thereby energizing latch magnet 77 from bus 120, a conductor 144, contacts 109, 108, a conductor 145, a conductor 146, magnet 77, a conductor 147 to bus119. The energization of magnet 77 takes place before piston 53 has returned detent rod 72 to a position where it will be held by latch 75. As fluid pressure is still cut oil' from cylinder 52 piston 53 will proceed downwardly until detent 72 engages latch 75 when the motion will be stopped. The detent 72 is preferably adjusted so that the latch 75 will be engaged thereby at a setting of control finger 45 corresponding to .a gate opening less than that determined by contact 63 (cam 66) but still slightly greater than enough to produce normal speed at no load. The control finger 45 being stopped in a predetermined desired position, the load which may be put on the turbine and gener ator when connected as will be described, is limited.

Meanwhile motor 106 is still rotating and slowly moving nut 103 downwardly thus carrying the corresponding end of the Heating lever 32 with it and lifting the other end of the floating lever to move the regulating valve 14 toward gate-open position. The controlling action of the ily balls 33 is thus modified so that for every osition of nut 103 the fly-balls tend to regu ate the turbine for a oorrespondin speed. Obviously, this aetlonwll radua ly raise the speed of the turbine. en nut 103 reaches contact 111 and dlsengages the same ,from contact 110 the turbine has been brought toi normal speed. The disengagement of contacts 110, 111 interrupts the circuit through motor 106 previously traced. The position of contacts 111, 110 may be made adjustable so that the speed setting at which motor 106 stops will be an desired time.

Re erring back, for the moment, to the initial opening of the gate, it will be remembered that the gate first o ns to an amount sufficient to start the tur ine if conditions are normal, the amount of opening being determined by en gement of member with cam 66 there y deenergizing solenoid valve 82. Fluid pressure being cut oil' from cylinder 52, the piston 53 will slowly move downwardly and will continue its movement clear to its original position thus returning the regulating valve 14 to its gate-closed position and completely reclosing the gate if the unit fails to start at all or fails to properly continue its starting operations, as, for example, fails to, after starting, come up to a predetermined speed or if the speed increasing means fails to act. This is because ift-he unit fails to start or fails after starting to reach a predetermined speed, the kswitch 115 will not close so that magnet 77 will not be energized as hereinbefore described, and the downward motion of detent 72 associated with piston 53 is therefore not stopped. Even if switch 115 closes the gate will nevertheless be reclosed if the motor 106 is not energized and does not act to raise the speed setting as hereinbefore described.

When the turbine has been brought to normal speed the generator 2 may be connected, as by means of a circuit breaker 148 to the distribution system 4. If. desired circuit breaker 148 may be caused to operate automatically in responde to equality in frequency and phase as between lines 3 and 4. Such a .device is usually termed an automatic Synchronizer and is merely indicated in the drawing for the reason that it forms. per se, no part of the present invention and may be of any desired form. The automatic synchronizer may be adapted to en ergize an operating coil 149 for the circuitbreaker 148 to close the latter when the desired conditions obtain. The circuit of coil 149 may be broken so as to open the circuit breaker, by means of the relay 150 which may be responsive to the same abnormal conditions as is relay 121. The circuit breaker 148 is here shown as provided with a movable auxiliary contact 151, adapted when the circuit breaker is in open position, to bridge contacts 152 and when the circuit dll breaker moves to closed position to interrupt this connection and bridge contacts 153. Assuming now that the generator has been connected to the distribution system by the closing of circuit breaker 148 and consequent closing of contacts 153,7the'motor 106 will be reenergized from bus 120, conductor 144, contacts 113, 112, a conductor 154, contacts 151, 153, a conductor 155, contacts 134, 132, 133, conductor 141, contacts 116, 115, conductor 142, motor 106, conductor 143 to bus 119. The motor 106 again rotates to move nut 103 still further downwardly to thereby still further increase the speed s etting which will determine the speed at which the fly balls through their controlling act1on on the lregulating valve 14, will tend to maintain the turbine. After a predetermined downward movement of nut 103, dependent upon the adjustment of the position of contact 113, this latter contact will be caused to disengage contact 112 thus breaking the circuit through motor 106 previously traced. At the same time a few revolutions of motor 106 after its circuit has been interrupted are suflicient to cause the nut 103 to move the slight eXtra distance whereby contact 113 is caused to engage contact 114. Before leaving this stage of the operation it may be noted that control finger 45 of the load limiting means is still in a position determined by the engagement of detent 72 with latch 75. The turbine therefore cannot assume any load for the reason that though the speed setting of nut 103 may be such as to tend to cause fly balls 33 to control regulating valve 14 in such a manner as to tend to open gate '5 to cause the turbine to take a load, this action will be coun-w teracted by reason of the fact that if gate 5 tends to open further than an amount sufficient to maintain normal speed the crank 47 acting through the various elements of the load limiting device will rotate control finger 45 in a clockwise direction thereby moving the regulating valve toward gate-closed position and thus maintaining gate 5 at the normal speed no-load setting.

By reason of the previously mentioned engagement of contact 113 with contact 114 the turbine is caused to -assume its load of a predetermined amount in the following manner. The electromagnetically o erated valve 82 is reenergized from bus 120 t rough conductor 144, contacts 113, 114, a conductor 156, conductor 126, coil 124, conductor 125 to bus 119. Oil under pressure is therefore again admitted by valve 82 through pipe' 87 to c linder 52. Piston 53 slowly moves upwar ly and detent 72 moves away from latch 75. At the same time control finger 45 is swung slowly in a counter-clockwise direction thereby slowly permitting the load on the turbine to be increased under the control of the fly balls 33. The counterclockwise motion of control finger 45 is lim` ited to any desired amount by the position of the adjustable nut 61. When nut 61 strikes stop 62 the piston 53 and control finger 45 reach the limit of their motion. Thereafter any further opening movement of gate 5 reacts on control finger 45 to move it in a clockwise direction thereby controlling regulnting valve 14.

1f it is desired to stop the turbine, the switch 123 may be opened thereby deenergizing the electromagnetieally operated valve 82. Relays 135 and 130 are also simultaneously deenergized by the opening of switch 123. The closing of valve 82 removes fluid pressure from piston 53 and control finger 45 operates regulating valve 14 to gradually move gate 5 toward closed position. The motion of piston 53 is checked when detent 72 engages latch 75 which is still held in engaging position by means of magnet 77. When this occurs the turbine is operating at normal speed and running approximately without any load. In this position of the piston the cam actuator has caused contacts 67, 68 to engage thereby closing a circuit through motor 106 such` that the motor` will rotate in a direction to move nut 103 upwardly, as follows: from bus 120, conductor 144, contacts 109, 108, conductor 145, a pair of contacts 157 which have been engaged by movable contact 132 of relay 130 when it was deenergized, a conductor 158, a conductor 159, contacts 68, 67, a conductor 160, a conductor 161 through motor 106, con ductor 143 to bus 119. The rising-of nut 103 gradually decreases the speed of the turbine. Meanwhile the circuit breaker 148 may have been opened in any desired manner, as by means of any well known form of reverse power relay controlling relay 150. The reverse power relay has not been shown for the reason that these devices are well known in the art. When nut 103 reaches the position shown in the drawing the turbine is then at a very low speed at which it would otherwise be maintained by the ily balls 33. However, at this stage nut 103 opens switch 108 thereby deenergizing magnet 77 and releasing detent 72. Piston 53 is therefore free to move downwardly under the action of spring 60 and thereby swings finger 45 clockwise to move the regulating valve gradually to gate-closed position. The gate 5 is moved to its fully seated position under the action of piston 10 and thereafter latch 80 is moved into notch 81.' At the time this occurs latch 93 releases detent 92 Aand the shut-off valve 90 is closed by spring 91 thereby preventing leakage of oil from the pressure tank. Thoughthere is now no pressure in cylinder 12` the gate 5 cannot open as it is held by latch 80.

In case abnormal conditions prevail in the system it is desirable that the turbine be shut down at a somewhat faster rate. This is accomplished in the followin manner. When an one of a number of pre etermined abnorma conditions obtains relay contact 122 will open thereby immediately deenergizin magnet 77 and the valve 82. Control nger 45 therefore moves, without ause, from its full load position to the osition in which the tubine is stopped. his is of course by reason of the fact that the piston 53 is not halted in its movement by latch 75 under these conditions. In order that thel f ductor 143 to bus 119. Motor 106 is therefore energized in a direction to run the nut 103 from its high to its low speed position.

Instead of causing modification of the speed settin by changing the position of a nut 103 of t e floating lever 32 by means of motor 106 or other motive devices, the s ed settin ma be changed in the manner i lustrate in Fig. 2. The parts in this figure that correspond-to parts of Fig. 1 have been given the same reference characters. The fly balls 33 are here shown as adapted to raise and lower a non-rotatable shaft 165 when the Ispeed of theh fly balls decreases or increases res ctively. The shaft 165 is suitably pivote to floating lever 32.k Loosel surrounding shaft 165 is a screw 163 Whic may be feathered to the shaft 165 by means of a feathering key 164 in order that screw 163 will not rotate relatively to shaft 165. Cooperable with screw 163 is a nut 166 the periphery of which is here shown as constituting a worm wheel with which a worm 167 coo erates. The worm 167 is suitably mounte in a bracket 168 which bracket is also shown as provided with an extension 169 for lsuitably guiding the vnut 166. The Worm 167 is yrotated in a Suitable manner by means of motor 106. As previously pointed out motor 106 may be replaced by any other suitable form of motive device. If an electric motor is utilized it may be controlled by conductors 142, 143, 161 corresponding to those conductors in the system shown. in Fig. 1. Shaft 165 is provided with a collar 170 between which and screw 163 is disposed a spring 171. The spring 171 adds its effect to the usual spring for restraining the fly balls from outward movement under centrifugal force, or the usual spring may be omitted, thespring 171 only remaining. If motor 106 is run in such a direction as to cause nut 166 to raise screw 163, spring 171 will be compressed thereby increasing the centrifu alforce necessa for the fly balls 33 to pu 'the pivot 35 o the floating lever 32 in a downward direction. It is therefore clear that by means of suitable operation of nut 163 the speed setting may be modified. It is to be understood that if the modification of Fig. 2 is substituted in the system of Fig. 1 then the screw 163 takes the place of nut 103 of Fig. 1 in the actuation of switches 108, 111, 113 etc., which switches may be suitably positioned in the line of travel of screw 163.

Instead of varyin the setting of the load limiting device by uid pressure means, as by piston 53 and the associated elements, this ma be accomplished by electrical means as disc osed in applicants copending companion application S. N. 109,556 filed May 17, 1926. v

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction shown and described, for 'obvious modifications 'may' occur" to a I person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically startin said prime mover including, a gate, means or initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, and means for again closing said gate if predetermined abnormal conditions involvirrg the starting operations obtain.

2. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting` said prime mover including, a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, and means for again closing said gate if said prime mover fails to start.

33.v In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, and means for again closing said gate if saidiprime mover fails to attain va predetermined speed.

4. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover yfor maintaining said speed at any desired value within the operating range, and means for automatically increasing the speed from a small value to a predetermined larger value.

5. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate, means for initially caus ing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for maintaining said y speed at any desired value within the operating range, moans for automatically increasing the speed from a small value to a larger predetermined value, and means'for again closing said gate if said speed-increasing means` fails to operate.

6. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for maintaining said speed at any desired value within the operating range, means for automatically increasing the speed setting from a small predetermined value to a larger predetermined value, means for predetermining the maximum gate opening between said predetermined speed values, means responsive to a predetermined condition for further i11- creasing the speed setting, and means for in- 4creasing the predetermined maximum gate opening.

7. In combination, a prime mover, a generator driven thereby, a distribution system, means for connecting said generator to said distribution system, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for maintaining said speed at any desired value Within the operating range, means for increasing the speed setting from a small predetermined value to a larger predetermined value, and means responsive to the closure of said connecting means for further increasing the speed setting.

8. In combination, a prime mover, a generator driven thereby, a distrtibution system, means for connecting said generator to said distrtibution system, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, ,a gate, means for initially causing said gate to admit operating fluid to said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for maintaining said speed at any desired value Within the operating range, means for automatically increasing the speed setting from a small predetermined value to a larger predetermined value, means for predetermining the maximum gate opening between said predetermined speed values, means responsive to the closure of said connecting means for further increasing the speed setting, and means for increasing the predetermined maximum gate opening.

9. In a system for automatically starting a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, means for operating said gate, means for predetermining the maximum permissible gate opening during a portion of the starting period, and means responsive to predetermined conditions for chano'ing the predetermined maximum permissible gate opening.

10. In a control system for a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, means for operating said gate to automatically open the same 'an amount sufficient to overcome the resistance to starting of said prime mover, and means for causing said operating means to thereafter reclose said gatel a predetermined amount.

11. In a control system for a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, means for operating said gate to automatically open the same an amount sufficient to overcome the resistance to starting of said prime mover, means for causing said operating means to thereafter reclose said gate a predetermined amount, and means responsive to the s eed of said prime mover for controlling said operating means.

12. In a system for automatically starting a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, means for operating said gate, means operatively related to said gate and reacting on said operating means for predetermining the maximum gate opening during a portion of the starting eriod and means responsive to predetermined conditions for changing the maximum predetermined gate'opening.

13. In a system for automatically starting a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, a generator driven by said prime mover, means for connecting said generator to a distribution system, means for operating said gate, means for predetermining the maximum gate opening during a portion of said starting period, and means responsive to the operation of said connecting means for changing the predetermined maximum gate opening.

14. In a system for automatically starting a prime mover having a gate for admitting operating iuid thereto, a generator driven by said prime mover, means for connecting said generator to a distribution system, means for operating said gate, means operativelyl related to said gate and reacting on said operating means for predetermining the maximum gate opening during a portion of the starting period, and means responsive to the operation of said connecting means for changing the maximum predetermined gate opening.

15. In combination, a prime mover, a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a regulating valve for controlling said servo-motor, a control member operatively related to said regulating valve, an extensible and contractible connection between said control member and said gate, and means for automatically controlling the extension and contraction of said connection in response to predetermined conditions.

llU

:,esmeo 16. In combination, a prime mover, ya gate for admltting operating fluid thereto, means for controlling said gate, an extensible connection between said gate and said controlling means, a latch for holding said gate in closed position, and means operatively related to said extensible connection for releasin said latch.

17. n a control system for a prime-movergate, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a regulating valve for controlling said servomotor, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said regulating valve, means for modifying the controlling action of said regulating valve, and means responsive to sa1d modif ing means for holding said fluid pressure a mitting means in open position.

18. In a gate operating means for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valve therefor, a control member operatively related to said regulating valve, means for transmitting` motion from said gate to said control member including a cylinder' member and a. piston member operating in said cylinder, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

19. In a gate operating means for a prime i mover, a servo-motor, y a regulating valve therefor, a control member operatively related to said regulating valve, means for transmitting motion from said gate to said control member including'a c linder member and a piston member operating-in said` cylinder, a fluid pressure operated valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said regulating valve, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder and to said fluid pressure operated valve.

20. In a gate operating means for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a. regulating valve '-therefor, means including a control member operatively related to said regulating valve and normally positioned in accordance with the osition of said gate,means for movin said control member independently of sai gate to a predetermined position,` and means for releasably holding said control member in said osition.

21. In a gate operatmg means for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valver therefor, means includingl a control member operatively related to said regulating valve and normally positioned in accordance with the position of said gate, means for supplying power to said control member to move the same independently of said gate, and means for releasably ho ding said con'- trol member in a predetermined position when said power supply is interrupted.

22. In a gate operating means for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valve therefor, means including a control' member operatively related to said regulating valve and normally lpositioned in accordance with ,the position of said gate, means for moving said control member independently of said gate to a predetermined position, and means for releasably holding said control member in said position,.and an electromagnet for controlling said holding means.

23. In a gate operatingmeans for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valve therefor, means including a control member operatively related to said regulating valve and normallypositioned in accordance with the position of said gate, means for supplying power to said control member to move the same independently of said gate, means for releasably holding said control member in a predetermined position when said power supply is interrupted, andv an electromagnet for controlling said holding means.

24. In a gate operating means for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valve therefor, means including a control member operatively related to said regulating valve and normally positioned in accordance with the position of said gate, means for moving said control member independently of said gate, and means responsive to said movement for stopping said movement with the control member in a predetermined position. 25. In a gateoperating mea-ns for a prime mover, a servo-motor, a regulating valve therefor, means including acontrol member operatively related to said regulating valve and normally positioned in. accordance with the position yof said gate, fluid pressure operated means for moving said control member, any electromagnetioally operated valve for controlling the supply of fluid vunder pressure, andvmeans responsive to a predetermined travel of said control member for closingl said valve.

26. In a governor for prime movers, a floating lever, a regulating valve operatively related to said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover' for controlling s aid lever, means foradjusting lthe position of said lever,vamotive device for operating said adjusting means, and means responsive to the speed vof said prime mover for controlling sad motive device.

27. In a governor for prime movers, 'a floating lever, a regulating valve operatively related t'o said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said lever, means including a motive device for modifying the controlling effect of said speed responsive means, and means responsive to the speedof said prime mover for controlling said motive dev1ce.

28. In a governor for prime movers, a floating lever, a regulating valve operatively related to said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover fork controlling said lever, means for modifying thecontrolling effect of said speed .responsive means, and atleast one switch disposed to be operated by said modifying means.

29. In a governor or prime movers, a floating lever, a regulating valve operatively related to said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said lever, means including a nut and operating screw for modifying the controlling eii'ect of said speed responsive means, and at least one switch disposed to be operated by relative motion of said screw and nut.

30. In a governor for prime movers, a

floating lever, a regulating valve operatively related to said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said lever, means including a motive device for modifying the controlling effect of said speed responsive means, and at least one switch disposed to be operated by said modifying means `for controlling said motive device.

31. In a governor for prime movers controlled by a gate, a loating lever, a regulating valve operatively related to said lever, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said lever, means for modifying the controlling effect of said speed responsive means, means for controlling the eifective action of said regulating valve, a switch disposed to be operated by said modifying means, and means controlled by said switch for controlling the means for controlling the eiiective action of said regulating valve.

32. In a system for controlling a prime mover, means for initiating the stopping of said prime mover, means responding to said initiating means for slowly stopping said prime mover at a rate independent of the speed of operation of said initiating means, and means responsive to predetermined abnormal conditions for stopping said prime mover more rapidly.

33. In a system for controlling a rime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, means for stopping said prime mover comprising, means for operating said gate, means for controlling said operating means positioned in accordance with said gate, means for causing said means controlling said operating means to cause said operating means to close said gate a predetermined amount, additional means for causing said operating means to still further close said gate, and means for causing said means controlling said operating means `to cause said operating means to complete the closing of said gate.

34. In a system for controlling a prime mover, a gate for controlling the admission of operating uid to said prime mover, means for operating said gate, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for modifying the controlling action of said speed responsive means, set while said prime mover is running to cause said speed responsive means to maintain said prime mover at a predetermined operating speed, means for initiating the closing of said gate, and means responsive to said initiating means for returning said modifying means to a low speed setting.

35. In a system for' controlling a prime mover, a governor for said prime mover including means responsive to the speed of said prime mover, a generator driven by said prime mover, means for connecting said generator to a distribution system, means for modifying the action of said speed responsive means, set while said prime mover is running to cause said speed responsive means to maintain said prime mover at a predetermined operating speed, and means responsive to the opening of said connecting means, for returning said modifying means to a low speed setting.

36. In combination, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to a prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said servo-motor, means for releasably holding said gate in its closed position, and means operable by said holding means for holding said valve in open position when Said holding means is released.

37. In combination, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to a prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said servo-motor, means for releasably holdin said gate in its closed position, and means or releasing said holding means and for holding said valve in open position.

38. In combination, a gate for controlling vthe admission of operating fluid to a prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said servo-motor, means for controlling said servo-motor, and common means for controlling said valve and said servo-motor-eontrolling means.

. 39. In combination, a prime mover, means for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said prime mover, a governor for said controlling means including a servomotor, a regulating valve therefor, a floating lever, a device responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said floating lever, a variable load limiting device positioned in accordance with the movement of said controlling means, and operatively associated with said regulating valve, Imeans for controlling the variation of said load limiting device, means connected to said for controlling said operating means, meansfloating lever for determining the speed of said prime mover, and means controlled by said speed responsive means for controlling said speed determining means.

40. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to ysaid prime mover,

K a. servo-motor for operating` said ate, a regulatin valve for controlling saidz servomotor, a oad limiting device positioned in accordance with said ate and dis osed to hold said regulating va ve in ate-c osed osition, means for causing sai load limiting device to free said regulating valve for movement to gate-open position, whereby said gate is opened to start said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for assuming control of said regulating valve at a low speed, and means responsive to a predetermined low speed of said prime mover` for adjusting said revulating valve to increase the speed of said prime mover to normal.

41. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said rime mover,v

gate, a rega servo-motor for operatin sai mg said servoulating valve for contro means for causing said holding means to free said regulating valve for movement to gateopen position whereby said gate is opened -to start said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover, for lassuming control of said regulating valve at a low speed, and means responsive to a predetermined low speed of said prime mover for adjusting said regulating valve to increasethe speed of said prime mover'.

42. In combination, a prime mover, means for automatically starting said prime mover including, a gate for controlling the admission of operating fluid to said rime mover, a servo-motor for operating sai gate, a regulating valve for controlling said servomotor, means for initially moving said regulating valve to gate-open position to start said prime mover, means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for maintaining said speed at any desiredyalue Within the operating range, and means for automatically increasin the speed from a small value to a larger pre etermined value.

I In testimon whereof, the signature of the inventor is a ed hereto.

RALPH H. EARLE. 

